Dr Leake on Testosterone Therapy

With all the conflicting reports about testosterone replacement, it is nearly impossible for the average person to sift through all the studies and opinions to make an informed decision.

A consensus statement published in the prestigious Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Fundamental Concepts Regarding Testosterone Deficiency and Treatment: International Expert Consensus Resolutions, should help clarify the issues.

Among the resolutions unanimously approved by the panel of experts were the following:

Testosterone (TD) deficiency is a well-established, clinically significant medical condition that negatively affects male sexuality, reproduction, general health, and quality of life.

The evidence does not support increased risks of cardiovascular events with T therapy.

The evidence does not support increased risk of prostate cancer with T therapy.

The evidence supports a major research initiative to explore possible benefits of T therapy for cardiometabolic disease, including diabetes.

The panel went on to state that no specific testosterone blood level reliably indicated a deficiency. In other words, one need not have a T level below the so-called “normal range” to legitimately qualify for T therapy.

It is difficult to understand why, in spite of all the medical evidence, the FDA persists in maintaining its warnings regarding testosterone and cardiovascular events.

To those of us at Cenegenics, none of the resolutions of the expert panel are a surprise. We have known this for many years. While we anticipate the testosterone debate will rage on, and the media will continue to grab at sound bites on both sides of the fence, we agree with the panel that the evidence and medical literature supports the safe use of T when administered by those with expertise in the field.